The documentary follows a year in the life of Bruce Franks Jr., a Ferguson activist and battle rapper, as he works toward a gun violence-regulated future in Missouri.

After the project was pitched by directors Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan, Teng, a commissioning editor and senior producer for Witness, Al Jazeera English’s documentary strand, decided to fund the film because of its character-driven plot.

“We were following Bruce’s story and watching it unfold,” said Teng. “It makes you ask, if, in reality, Black lives matter or not.”

Teng said that the most important thing in working on documentary films is the opportunity to meet and listen to the sources.

“You get to learn every day from these people,” said Teng. “Our only job is to listen.”

Teng majored in journalism because she wanted a job where she could experience life through different people and different perspectives.

The most rewarding part about this project, Teng said, is a chance for the world to catch a glimpse of Bruce’s life and his everyday reality.